Friday, 11th May

We started the day at the Spring Township Centennial Rotary meeting and another presentation.

Then it was off to Hersheypark!! (www.hersheypa.com/attractions/hersheypark/index.php)

We managed to do 4 coasters and 1 water ride in the time we were there - the queues were quite long - but worth it!! Special mention must be made of Carl and Kerry-Lynn who made sure they were in the FRONT ROW for every ride!! :-)

The first thing that must be noted is that the Team is very proud of Jaap!! It took a lot of convincing to get him to go on the coasters with us!!! ;-)

The first ride we went on was The Comet which is a wooden roller coaster featuring quick turns and drops. We moved on to the SooperDooperLooper which was the first looping roller coaster on the East Coast and a good ride with some stomach-flipping drops.

Next we went on The Great Bear ride (more convincing was needed for Jaap to do this one!!). The ride is an inverted steel coaster that reaches speeds of 61 miles per hour (100kms) and takes you through an immelman - a loop that turns you out at the top and then drops you like a falling star!!

Jaap, Jack and Ferdi then went on the Coal Cracker, a hydroflume ride that left them soaking! While they were busy with that ride, Carl and Kerry-Lynn (coaster junkies) went on the signature ride in the park - the Storm Runner!!

No words can express the exhilaration and rush of this ride!! It takes you from 0-72mph (+/- 120kms) in 2 seconds!! You're then taken 18 stories straight up and straight down!! After that it takes you on 35-foot cobra loop, barrel rolls, and a dramatic flying snake dive so fast that it all went by in a blur!! Awesome!! :-)

In the evening, we had a pizza and beer party at Bret and Connor's house where we held the first screening of Ferdi's live interview. To give a 'short answer', Ferdi represented South Africa and the GSE Team admirably! :-)